Rail joining and separating device



April 9, 1946. T. ROY

RAIL JOINING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1944' Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL JOINING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Thomas Roy, Grand Falls, New Brunswick,

Canada Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,277

4 Claims. (Cl. 254-43) The present invention pertains to a novel device for joining or separating the ends of vehicle rails.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and rugged device that is readily mounted on the rail ends and performs its function by the action of a screw. Another object is to provide such a device that can readily be converted from the joinin to the separating function and vice versa.

In the accomplishment of these objects, there are provided uprights with means for fastening them to the rail ends. Associated with each upright is an apertured member through which an elongated screw may be passed. The screw has a square end adapted to be received non-rotatably between a set of uprights and ends in a head shouldering on one of these members. A ratchet is threaded on the screw and, by the operation of a pawl, is caused to bear against the upright that is more remote from the screw head. Since the screw cannot turn, the rails are moved longitudinally and relatively to each other.

The construction of the device is such that it may be assembled to exert pressure in either direction, to join or separate the rail ends, as desired.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the ac companying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device applied to a pair of rails;

Figure 2 is aplan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of .Figure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout. I

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a pair of rails I to be joined. In the recess 2 at each side of each rail is fitted a filler plate 3. The plates on each rail are received in a U-shaped strap 4 fitted over the head 5 of the rail and are secured to the rail by set screws 6 in the ends of the strap.

To each plate 3 is fastened an upright member 7 extending upwardly beyond the head of the rail.

Across each pair of members 1 is laid a shoulder plate 8, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3. Each shoulder plate has a hole 9 to receive a screw as will presently appear.

An elongated screw I0 is passed between both pairs of upright members I and through the holes 9 of the shoulder plates 8. The screw has a square end It which is caught between two upright members I and ends in a head ll shouldering a plate 8.

Beyond the other upright member 1, a ratchet wheel I2 is threaded on the screw. The ratchet wheel is formed with a shoulder l3 abutting the adjacent plate 8. At the other side of the ratchet, a lever l 4 is loosely mounted on the screw and carries a pivoted pawl l5 engaging the ratchet, as may be seen in Figures 1 and 4.

In the operation of the device, the ratchet and lever are mounted on the screw in a manner to feed the ratchet against the adjacent shoulder plate 8. Since the ratchet cannot pass beyond this plate, further action will draw the screw, which is held non-rotatively by its square end l0 between a set of upright members 7. Consequently the rail beneath the head 8 will be drawn towards the other rail until their ends meet.

In order to reverse the operation for separating the rails, the shoulder plates 8 are mounted on the inner or facing surfaces of the respective uprights l. The ratchet is worked away from the screw head and, on abutting the shoulder plate, forces the rails apart. A similar result may be obtained by reversing the uprights I from the position of Figure 1, so that the plates 8 face each other.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A rail joining and separating device comprising filler plates adapted to be fitted in each side of the rails to be joined, means for securing said plates to said sides, an upright secured to each of said plates, an apertured member laid across the pair of uprights for each rail, a screw passed through said members and having a head shouldering on one of the said members, a ratchet threaded on said screw and adapted to bear.

against the other f said members, a lever rotatably and loosely mounted on said screw, and a pawl carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet.

2. A rail joining and separating device comprising filler plates adapted to be fitted in each side of the rails to be joined, means for securing said plates to said sides, an upright secured to each of said plates, an apertured member laid across the pair of uprights for each rail, a screw passed through said members and having a head shouldering on ne of the said members, a ratchet threaded on said screw, a shoulder formed on said ratchet and adapted to bear against the other of said members, a lever rotatably and loosely mounted on said screw, and a pawl carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet.

3. A rail joining and separating device comprising filler plates adapted to be fitted in each side of the rails to be joined, a strap adapted to be fitted over each rail and the filler plates thereon, set screws in the ends of said straps for clamping said plates to the respective rails, an upright secured to each of said plates, an apertured member laid across the pair of uprights for each rail, a screw passed through said members and having a head sho'uldering on one of the said members, a ratchet threaded on said screw and adapted to bear against the other of said members, a lever rotatably and loosely mounted on said screw, and a pawl carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet.

4. A rail joining and separating device comprising filler plates adapted to be fitted in each side of the rails to be joined, a strap adapted to be fitted over each rail and the tiller plates thereon, set screws in the ends of said straps for clamping said plates to the respective rails, an upright secured to each of said plates, an apertured member laid across the pair of uprights for each rail, a screw passed through said members and having a head shouldering on one of the said members, a ratchet threaded on said screw, one end of said screw being square and adapted to be caught non-rotative between one pair of said uprights, a lever rotatably and loosely mounted on said screw, and a pawl carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet.

THOMAS ROY. 

